The Seahawks may avoid this next year but in 2018, the yearly assessment of their locker room health (or now recap of their previously locker room help) still exists and it brought a few new details. It uncovered some more tension between Russell Wilson and some on the defense filtered through new anecdotes such as the idea Wilson would tell on his teammates to management and old stories retold with slightly new info like Wilson and Sherman’s now-infamous practice run-in where Wilson was told he “f—-in sucked” after Sherman intercepted him.

To read a more full account on what this story means, click here. To read the original piece itself, click here.

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But you’ve already read all that. What you want is some of the reaction from your favorite players and people on Twitter and believe me, they had plenty to say. Here’s how the people reacted to perhaps the final chapter of the Seahawks locker room tension following their tragic Super Bowl loss.

Cliff Avril just said on @SportsRadioKJR that he doesn’t know the Russell Wilson that was mentioned in that story.

— Eric Hammond (@e_hammond) September 7, 2018

Avril was quoted in the piece but he did not lodge any specific complaints at Russell Wilson. He only said the coaching staff may have erred in letting the defense originally go after Wilson and then changing directions and making him off limits following the Super Bowl loss but he accurately pointed out that Wilson is no more protected than any other star quarterback in the NFL. Avril came to Wilson’s defense from a social standpoint. In the piece, it says Wilson had a hard time interacting with the Seahawks defense and even separated himself at a Christmas party. The retired pass rusher says he and Wilson hung out plenty.

???? https://t.co/Gpk2eutd9S

— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) September 7, 2018

Former Seahawks wide receiver and member of their 2013 championship team Golden Tate never had to deal with the rift following the Super Bowl loss because he was already in Detroit with the Lions when that loss occurred. Instead, he watched all this unfold from a distance between his former quarterback and defensive teammates. He seems intrigued by it all. Who knows what Tate’s thinking? Rumors circled around his departure in the 2014 offseason. But clearly, he does have thoughts on the matter.

The SI piece about Seahawks unraveling touches on several issues from last year’s ESPN piece — mostly that Pete’s Russ favoritism pissed the defense off — and it gets to my theory that guys were cut/traded because they were uncontrollable.

Russ snitchin tho? That’s new. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/0NM1s3sdMw

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) September 7, 2018

If true, one would understand why the defense has problems with Russell Wilson on these accounts. The locker room is akin to a sibling-like relationship and Pete Carroll and management are the parental figures; it’s a big breech of trust to go tell on your teammates to management. As Dugar pointed out, Wilson can’t really stop the favoritism that naturally occurs between a franchise and its quarterback but he’s absolutely in control of this. A valid concern from his teammates if this was indeed the case.

2018. A New Season. #GoHawks https://t.co/qBIo75aOvB

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) September 7, 2018

Neither Russell Wilson or the Seahawks gave comment for the article but Wilson did have a rather timely tweet while many people were just waking up to the piece. Clearly, he’s not responding to the piece with this tweet. I REPEAT IT’S CLEAR HE’S NOT RESPONDING TO THE PIECE WITH THIS TWEET. But, it is perfectly-timed nonetheless with the idea of 2018 being a rebirth for his team. His likened the year to the 2012 season when he first arrived and they just came onto the season as legit contenders. New year, new me actually applies to the Seahawks this year.

Everyone ready for the Richard Sherman sourced hit piece on the Seahawks, Pete and Russell to drop? It’s gotta be this week, right?

Anyone want to try to guess what it says and which writer/company publishes it?

— Mike Salk, 710 ESPN (@TheMikeSalk) September 6, 2018

710 ESPN Seattle radio host Mike Salk got his clairvoyance on with a prediction two full days earlier than the piece dropping on Friday. It seems clear that Sherman was among the sources for the piece; although he was not specifically named. There were multiple unidentified players quote in the piece along with former defensive tackle Tony McDaniel who put his name on his specific gripes with the organization and their treatment of Russell Wilson. Salk calling this is pretty impressive. Maybe, he had an inside source or maybe he’s just a fortune teller.

Russell Wilson is the greatest QB in franchise history.

The LOB was the among the greatest defenses in NFL history.

Pete Carroll is the most successful coach in franchise history.

I’m not here to disparage any of them. No need to pick sides.

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) September 7, 2018

While many people are rushing to pick one side of another, Nemhauser has the right idea here. The Seahawks led by Wilson and Sherman both made some pretty spectacular memories. As they hash out their differences you can certainly criticize a bit but there’s no need to pick a side. Why? They all were a part of a magical run for your team.

Nemhauser also said this which tracks as well:

“That was a golden era of Seahawks football. Nobody is happy that it ended. Everyone deals with it differently. Pointing fingers at some players because they pointer fingers at other players is reductive. I will always have fond memories of their combined legacy.”

Well stated.

I’ll stand with this guy and his leadership, thanks. https://t.co/iKxwZMQbDO

— Mike Salk, 710 ESPN (@TheMikeSalk) September 7, 2018

Meanwhile Salk has no problem pointing fingers and assessing the wreckage that was the past locker room of the Seattle Seahawks and he’s not siding with the man now in San Francisco as a 49ers cornerback. He’s sticking with the franchise quarterback still in town. Shocking development there. Admittedly, some of the grievances levied in the piece at Wilson were petty and if they came from Sherman (something we don’t know for certain), Sherman was being petty. But, certainly, you can understand why Sherman would be bothered by some of the less petty grievances. And in the end, it doesn’t matter. They won a lot of football games together.

Speaking of petty or more accurately just blatantly untrue characterizations of Russell Wilson, this one is a dozy. The idea that Wilson doesn’t work hard enough to get the credit he gets is asinine. Even Sherman has attested to how hard Wilson works to improve at his craft. Just earlier in the week, he told Dan Patrick he shows up to work at 4:30 A.M. sometimes. Wilson’s a grinder and you don’t have to like everything about him but you can never take away his work ethic. It’s top notch.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! I have some thoughts after reading this:

-I want every emotionally resentful member of the former defense gone

-I am so glad SEA moved on from Bennett and Sherman-This is a phenomenal article written by Richard-So glad we’re now chasing humble players https://t.co/BYtuX0Xs2i

— Evan Hill (@EvanonHB) September 7, 2018

The Seahawks did seem to have some in the locker room who couldn’t get over the Super Bowl loss but the affect it actually had on winning football games is marginal at best. The Seahawks post-Super Bowl years have been marred by injury and a poorly constructed offensive line more than anything. It may be helpful to a more fun work environment to get Sherman and others out of the locker room and for Pete Carroll’s message to really resonate but in terms of winning football games, the tension didn’t much matter. Also only chasing humble players now eh? That’s a bit of a stretch. The Seahawks will search for talent wherever they can find it.

It’s just takes firing off in the twitter wind now, but it is *so weak* to focus everything on the one interception instead of taking accountability for your own failure

— Zach Whitman (@zjwhitman) September 7, 2018

So much of the Super Bowl loss is pinned on the play call and interception but in reality, the loss goes much deeper than that and everyone involved knows that. It hurts the players so because they believe it was a betrayal of their identity to lose a Super Bowl that way. But, the defense did let Tom Brady come back on them in the second half. They did give up a lead in the fourth quarter and it would have been the offense courtesy of a deep ball by Russell Wilson that bailed them out not necessarily Lynch even if he had run the ball in. Lynch had played well all game but on that drive, it was a passing effort. Also the Patriots just made a big defensive stand. It just comes down to that.

Interesting story by @theMMQB in that there was one player who received more preferential treatment more than any other who wasn’t mentioned. The “Lynch rules” far different than any other player. This is old news. https://t.co/idIfm0kR1t

— Ian Furness (@IanFurnessSea) September 7, 2018

Speaking of Lynch, he got his own preferential treatment in the locker room. He was allowed to be extremely him at all times, which is fine. But understanding that’s how Carroll runs his locker room tracks both ways. You can’t complain about Wilson because Carroll wants to cater to how he is as an individual and think its fine when Carroll does the same with Marshawn Lynch. Management also gave Lynch a new contract before he entered the last year of his deal (a no-no for them); so it wasn’t just Wilson getting the star treatment.

We’re not talking enough about the psychological shift in the players SEA scouted and drafted in 2018 — we are done with the “alpha shit talkers”

— Evan Hill (@EvanonHB) September 7, 2018

Outside of the done with “alpha shit talkers” part, the Seahawks have certainly shifted gears emotionally in 2018. They were weighed down by their past as much as their financial situation in the previous three years and they rectified both at the same time. The Seahawks were able to turn the page on their last era of success and clear their future cap situations a little bit. It’ll be a fresh look and rejuvenated spirit for the Seahawks in 2018.

Imagine believing this (doesn’t the Super Bowl MVP voting happen before the end of the game?) pic.twitter.com/Hc3CeEAdCM

— Ben Baldwin (@benbbaldwin) September 7, 2018

The idea that a coach would call a play with the Super Bowl MVP in mind is simply bonkers. The fact that this even became legend among anybody in the locker room is a testament into how humans will fit their own personal narrative into a difficult situation to explain away their culpability or try to make sense of it. It’s easier to believe in a grand conspiracy theory than the fact the Seahawks simply got beat in the Super Bowl and/or the coaching staff made a mistake. This is just wow.

Know who else the #Seahawks protected/covered for? Richard Sherman when he fought a failed drug test.And when he blew up on the sidelines against the #Falcons.And when he blew up on the sidelines against the #Rams.And when he threatened to revoke @CougsGo’s press pass.

— Danny O’Neil (@dannyoneil) September 7, 2018

As mentioned earlier with Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks don’t just protect Russell Wilson. They let all their players be uniquely them. They kept Sherman around after his sideline blow up (although they did try to trade him) and countless other times where Sherman was in the wrong. They know how to deal with each of their players and they try to do so with every incident. Wilson being catered to is no exception. It’s actually the rule in Seattle.

Also, if someone can please point me to where Russell Wilson has aimed so much as a veiled complaint about a teammate’s performance, toughness or competitiveness, I’d be grateful because I have yet to find one.

— Danny O’Neil (@dannyoneil) September 7, 2018

Ironically, the defensive teammates who don’t like Russell Wilson because of a perceived special treatment would probably like him better if he was a bit more surly and edgy. But it simply isn’t who Wilson is and it never will be. It’s not in his nature to criticize publicly. He’s a bit more reserved than his teammates of the past. And that’s just the way it is. He’s going to be who he is. Sherman will be who is. It’s a shame everyone couldn’t just accept that and move on from the Super Bowl loss.